As an offshoot of the session on GettingAGroupToActionStepsAfterOS, Carol Rodriguez brought up a situation where she had done an Open Space with Mexican American participants and they were reluctant to get up and move because they thought it would be considered disrespectful. She even had one convener who got upset because someone was leaving her session. Carol asked the group for suggestions on how to present the Law of Two Feet-- of Motion and Responsibility-- in a way that would make it clear to the participants that it was okay to move around. Some of the suggestions were:

Say to the group, "Imagine that you are a convener and someone in your group wants to leave, what will you think or do?" Then point out that if their inclination is to ask them not to, or feel that they are being disrespectful, remind them that it's okay for them to leave, and in fact, it's their responsibility to move if they aren't getting or giving what they want or need.

Point out that it's their responsibility to get the most from the sessions, so they may need to move around to do that.

Talk about the Law of Two Feet as the way to empower yourself to make the most of the situation and your learning.

Explain that the Law of Two Feet is about you taking responsibility for your own learning. It sets the stage for your own responsibility.

This is not like other situations where you are "presented to." You take responsibility and need to ask yourself, "What did I do to make this a success for myself?"

Point out that even as a convener it's okay to leave and go to another group as long as you get someone to take over the scribe role.

Remember that sometimes it takes a little while for people to really believe that it's okay to move around.

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